The voice acting community is mourning the loss of Michael Donovan, who passed away on March 4 at the age of 72. His death was confirmed in the summer 2026 issue of the SAG-AFTRA quarterly magazine, with fellow voice actor Ian James Corlett subsequently sharing the news with the public.
Donovan leaves behind a substantial legacy in the anime dubbing industry. He is perhaps best recognized by fans for his portrayal of the hot-headed Ryoga Hibiki in the classic Ranma ½ series and Cye Mouri in Ronin Warriors. His versatility extended to major franchises, where he voiced Master Roshi in early Dragon Ball dubs and the formidable Zouken Matou in the Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel film trilogy.
Beyond his contributions to anime, Donovan was a staple of North American animation during the 90s and 2000s. He provided distinct performances for characters such as Phong and Mike the TV in the groundbreaking CGI series ReBoot, as well as Guile in Street Fighter and Sabertooth in X-Men: Evolution. His career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on multiple generations of viewers.
